2025-05-28
water_insecurity_2022 and water_insecurity_2023 datasets used in this study are compiled from relevant indicators within the ACS to answer:Methodology :
This report examines spatial and temporal variations in USA water insecurity using the 2022 and 2023 water_insecurity data sets.The report maps the spatial distribution of water resource insecurity for each year separately, focusing on differences in indoor plumbing availability between counties in the western and eastern United States Changes in plumbing insecurity were analysed by mapping changes at the county level from 2022 to 2023. Each county’s plumbing condition was compared to the national average to identify areas with higher or lower levels of insecurity, and maps were used to visualize regional differences and deviations. In addition, a comparative bar chart analysis of the top 10 counties with the greatest changes revealed different local trends.
The map illustrates county-level changes in plumbing insecurity across the U.S. between 2022 and 2023. Most counties saw minimal change, while select areas in the Southwest experienced notable improvements (purple) or worsening (red) in plumbing access. Counties with missing or unchanged data appear in white.
This map shows the difference in the percentage of people lacking indoor plumbing in each county compared to the 2022 U.S. average (0.1%). Most counties highlighted in red exceed the national average, indicating higher plumbing insecurity. A few counties in the Southwest (shaded in pink and purple) show extreme disparities, with values more than 2–3% above the national average.
This map displays the percentage of people lacking indoor plumbing in 2023, relative to the national average (0.1%). Counties shaded in red exceed the average, while the deepest disparities (above 2–3%) are seen in some counties of Arizona and New Mexico. Many areas across the Southeast and Northeast also continue to show above-average plumbing insecurity.
Plumbing insecurity continues to be a problem in many parts of the U.S., and in some areas, it’s actually getting worse. While a lot of counties stayed close to the national average (0.1%), certain regions, especially in the Southwest, South, and Northeast had much higher rates of households without proper plumbing. Comparing 2022 to 2023, some of the counties already struggling saw even bigger increases, pointing to growing gaps in basic infrastructure.